oil type

ckyle29

Member
Actually, some car oils would work just fine. The key is to not use ANY oil that has friction modifiers added, as they will mess up the wet-clutch. If the bottle has a little "sunburst" logo on the front, the oil has friction modifiers and you don't want to use it. Not all car oils have modifiers though.

That being said, keep things simple and just use 10W-40 Valoline 4-cycle motorcycle oil. You can get it practically everywhere and it doesn't cost much more than any other oil. Change it every 1,200 to 1,500 miles or twice a year if you don't ride that much and you should be fine. Also, don't waste the extra money getting a synthetic unless you have a full built racing motor. It won't give you anything extra for the money on a stock motor, especially since the change intervals are so short anyway.
 

hondaman

Active Member
10w40 is fine for all years. It means all temperature oil which means it can be used in the summer when very hot and into fall when temperatures are cooler. You can use 10w30 in the summer but is not recommended for cold temperatures.
 

OLD CT

Well-Known Member
Low budget oil

My bike needs a little add oil as I came up short on the last oil change in the gallon jug. Found this inexpensive oil in the Dollar General $2.50 a QT. This oil is SF rated and that is what the manual suggests for our bikes. SE or SF. Says on the bottle not for use in engines after 1988, I have never tried this and use Rotella 15-40. It is 10-40 so when it's real hot out I may not run it. At least for more than a half hour run time.
 

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OLD CT

Well-Known Member
That's what I use also, and have for several years now. I do use Valvoline 20/50 when it gets into the high 80's and 90+ degrees. I just can't bank on this stuff for more than a splash, if I run short a little when it's cool out.
 

Spizz

Active Member
I use Rotella in all my bikes, big and small, and Im typically an oil is oil kinda guy. However I have a friend that rebuilds LARGE deisel motors and he says Rotella is designed for low rpm deisels, and isnt suited for high rpm motorcycle engines. He has a good point, but I still use it without issue or concern.
 

OLD CT

Well-Known Member
No need to worry, I have removed cylinders after running them for a couple years on Rotella and found no heavy scuffing.
 
As the king of all clutch abusers, I concur, as its one of the few oils ive found to hold up to the extreme heat I induce on it.

"The King Of All Clutch Abusers?!?!?" :13: Wait a minute, I thought I already earned that title, complete with cheap chrome-plated trophy, LOL. But are you guys SE-WIOUS??? Sheeeee-it, now I'm wondering if I should run Rotella-T (my favorite oil for big trucks) in my goddam FrankenBike, maybe that's the answer to my search for better oil. I believe I ran a separate thread asking about which oil is the best for my little offroad rocket, and I've tried half a dozen different brands of 4-stroke 10w-40 motorcycle oil with lingering doubts about optimal performance. :7:

Damn, that would be funny if I could actually use Rotella-T in my FrankenBike and see improved results, LOL. Some sorta residual karmic action from my trucking days, 10??? :43: But lemme wrap my addled brain around that concept a bit longer, for today I'll go with the untested Spectro brand of 4-stroke MC oil, LOL. WTF, I like that Spectro brand, the product line has performed well thus far with my little offroad rocket, and y'all know the old saw: IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT!!! :30: Meh, I'll have time in the future to look into other options.

Damn, I'm watching corporate media, and those tools just featured a new nautical drone, so to speak... some 140' vessel with amas or outriggers to each side, the craft itself loaded with scientific equipment and potential sub-killing technology. Funky craft was named "SEA HUNTER" and I reckon it's another boondoggle, but who knows??? I'm not big on seeing fat contractors spraying on corporate media about how bitchin' the product is, when said craft cost taxpayers MILLIONS in $USD, PFFFFFFFT. :mad2: And I speak as a MFing seasoned lifelong mariner who hails from a military family, including goddam CDRs, USN Submarine Service, AYE?!?!?!? :13:

MEH, GONNA SAIL AGAIN MANANA SO I'LL GO LOOK AT THAT FRIGGIN' NAUTICAL BOONDOGGLE WITH ME OWN EYES, "AAAAARRRRRRR!!!" :43: Y'ALL BE GOOD, I'M OUTTA HERE, GOTTA GO CHANGE THAT OIL, 10???

P.S. OLD CT, you're reinstated with full benefits (ObamaCare and a free Domino's Pizza once a week, LOL), at least until I hear more about running goddam Shell Rotella-T truck oil in these little bikes... tell me you're NOT pulling my goddam 420 gold chain, PUH-LEEZ!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! :27: :16: :27:
 
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OLD CT

Well-Known Member
Golden Spectro was my go to for 2 stroke premix and Bel Ray in the bottom end. No, I'm not pulling your golden chain yet. I thought your favorite was Snake-oil sidewinder!
HEH HEH.
 
R U KIDDING ME?!?!?!? :13:

I'M CHUGGING SNAKE OIL BY THE GALLON, LOL... :43:

I buy it at Walmart, don'tcha know?!?!? :41:

Only $7.99 USD, but the cr@p is made in China, LOL. Damn. :red70:
 

69ST

Well-Known Member
There have been concerns expressed about Rotella being unsuitable for high-rpm applications, due to foaming. That seems to be a non-issue. However, I did come across some actual scientific analysis that revealed the Zinc concentration and it's considered marginal, 25% short of what the staff engineers felt was needed minimally and about 50% short of ideal, for pre-roller cammed automotive engines. With flat-tappet-cammed V8s, lifters gall & burn, cam lobes get wiped clean...time to rebuild the entire engine. If lack of ZnDDP is going to cause problems with small Honda engines, it's going to be premature shift fork wear, not cylinder scuffing.

Can't speak for anyone else here but I'm an "if it ain't broke..."/"don't :censored: with what works" old-school guy. If I were looking to save money, I'd buy Valvoline by the case; it goes on sale at least twice a year. Last purchase set me back 2.19/quart, on sale; I stocked-up. Even running nothing but high-priced GN4, the most I've ever spent on a year's worth of oil changes was about 35 bucks...sofa cushion change, imho.

As for snake oil, it depends on the type of snake, the snake's diet, time of year, religious affiliation, etc...way too technical for moi.:30:
 
No chain pulling here, that shits as good as the black gold Jedd Clampette dug up in his back yard.
As for the crown of clutch abusers, you could at best be prince status in comparison, 10-4 rubber ducky?

Oh, no, ANY rank but "PRINCE"---on "THE FRANKENBIKE FORMERLY KNOWN AS A HONDA!!!" :43:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Damn. :red70:

I'd settle for "DUKE"---as in "DUKE, DUKE, DUKE, DUKE OF EARL..." :30:

Or maybe even a lesser rank, such as "KNIGHT" or "CAVALRYMAN" or even (gasp!) "FOOT SOLDIER IN THE MONKEYBIKE WARS..." :13:

Just woke from a nice deep sleep, only to find that it's barely 0100... no worries, means more shut-eye for this kid, WOOHOO!!! I'm back to La-La Land, as soon as I chug some juice and water. Got a long day of f#%g off ahead, I need all the rest I can get, LOL. ADIOS, YOUSE MONKEYBIKING HEROES!!! :red70:
 
As for snake oil, it depends on the type of snake, the snake's diet, time of year, religious affiliation, etc...way too technical for moi.:30:

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Dammit, Boy!!! Steer clear of snake oil made outta snakes strapped with explosives, said snakes chanting verses from the Koran, and you'll be alright... LOL. :43:

Okay, now I'm back to sleep, to dream of riding wheelies on my little offroad rocket... :red70:
 
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